McDowell misses out on US Open spot

Graeme McDowell came up short in his bid to qualify for the US Open at the weather delayed 36-hole Final Qualifying event in Florida.

The 2010 champion returned to at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in West Palm Beach at 7:30 am local time today looking for a late birdie blitz to qualify for Oakmont next week.

But he could pick up just one strokes in his eight remaining holes and missed out by five strokes on five-under after adding a 69 to his opening 70 and remains without a start in the US Open since 2020.

Justin Hicks Wellington, Philip Barbaree Jr and amateur Frankie Harris tied for first on 11-under as Austen Trusow beat Luke Poulter, son of Ryder Cup star Ian, in a playoff for fourth and final spot after they tied on 10-under.

Play also concluded at Valencia Country Club in the southern California where Joey Herrera beat Lucas Carper in a playoff for the final spot after their battle was halted by darkness on Monday.

With Pádraig Harrington, Seamus Power, Tom McKibbin, Sean Quinlivan and amateur Patrick Keeling failing to progress yesterday, it means that Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are Irish golf’s lone representatives at Oakmont next week.

World number 129 Power could make it if he wins this week’s RBC Canadian Open and makes the world’s top 60 on Monday who will also be exempt.

He could also secure on of three places in The Open at Royal Portrush via the Open Qualifying Series if he is in the leading three players not already exempt who make the cut.